Attitudes of support people: a key element when implementing technologies for people with intellectual and visual disabilities.

ABSTRACT

AIM: The degree to which people with intellectual and visual disabilities can use technology relies on the level of support they receive. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the relationship between the constructs effort expectancy, attitudes, and behavioural intentions of support people (i.e. relatives and healthcare professionals) regarding the use of such technologies for people with intellectual and visual disabilities. The aim of this study was to gain insight into how these constructs are connected and to explore their relationship with support person's characteristics and the support need levels of people with intellectual and visual disabilities. METHODS: In total, 186 support people from a Dutch healthcare organisation focusing on people with intellectual and visual disabilities participated in an online questionnaire. We used a regression analysis to explore how the constructs, the characteristics, and the level of support needs were related. RESULTS: Both effort expectancy (ß = .35; t(185) = 5.04; p < .001) and attitude (ß = .75; t(185) = 15.55; p < .001) of support people were related to the intention to use technologies. The effect of effort expectancy (ß = .04; t(177) = .74; p = .462) on the intention to use technologies was mediated through attitude (ß = .74; t(177) = 13.28; p < .001). Younger support people scored higher on attitude than older support people. CONCLUSIONS: Support people's effort expectancy and attitude play a significant role in their intention to use technologies when supporting people with intellectual and visual disabilities, with attitude emerging as pivotal factor.

A better understanding of the relationship between effort expectancy, attitude, and the intention to use technologies in support people may facilitate the implementation of technologies.The intentions of support people to use technologies is not related to the level of support needs of people with intellectual and visual disabilities.Younger support people have a more positive attitude towards technology for people with support needs compared to older support people.A positive attitude has a strong and positive relationship to a higher behavioural intention. Therefore, when implementing technologies, healthcare organisations should pay special attention to the attitude of support people towards the use of technologies for people with support needs.